The Osceola times., 1887-03-26
THE EASTER OFFERINGS.
Kitty Grey to Her Father and Vice
Versa.

looked SO sober and pcrplexed one
Thursday afternoon that Edith Halstead
reused herself from the fascinating
mysteries of Kensington embroidery to
ascertain the cause.
"What is the matter with YOU to-day,
Katharine Grey? | verify believe that
YOU have not smiled once since YOU
came over here. Have you torn your
new dress climbing fences? That is
the most probable calamity of which l
can think at the present moment"
Kitty smiled family as she shook her
curly head. 'ly dress is all right,
thank you, my dear; your nsinuation
is absurd. | have not climbed a fence
for six weeks. 1t is exceedingly for
tunate that it is not torn, for | should
probably be obliged to wear it, even
if it were. New dresses are rather I'M
common at our house,
There was little accent of bitter
ness and rebellion in Kitties voice as
she utter the last words, which Edith
was quick to note.
''You want something that you can't
have; isn't that the trouble?n she ques-
toned shrewdly; I'm astonished, Kit
tie, you are usually so delightfully."-
philosophical with regard to such mat
ters. Tell me all about it, my dear"
she concluded coaXingly, casting aside
her beloved Kensington, that she might
give her undoubted attention to the re-
cital of Kitties woes. She looked SO
sympathetic that Kittie yielded at once.
yes" she acknowledged. II want
some money; | want it ba lly and there
is not the faintest possibility of my be-
ing able to get it, Somcway, | can't
manage to feel at all philosophical over
this matter. 1t is horribly inconven-
lent to be respectfully poor; you should
be profoundly thankful that you don't
know from personal experience just
how inconvcnient it is. Sometimes |
think | would rather be a street Arab
and beg from house to house, than be
obliged TO economic and plan so con-
tinuallS in order TO make a respectable
appearance. There would be an actual
excitement in being extremely poor
and not knowing what one would have
10 eat for the next meal, or whether
he would have any thing at ALL" Two
tears glistened in Kittie's large bright
eyes. sight SO unusual that Edith
looked at her with something of dis
may, Why should Kittie, usually so
supremacy Indifferent to triiles like
worn-c,, gloves, soiled ribbons, dilapi-
dated shoes and old-fashioned dresses,
suddenly become so dissatisfied with
her CHEEKY little home? For X tiles
home was CHEEKY and pleas
ant, despite the fact that the
little town was SO outrageously healthy
that Dr. Grey's income was barely
sufficient to meet the necessary ex-
penscs, leaving no margin at all for
luXuries. DIR. Grey was genial and
pleasant, his wife was invariably Sc
rene -ud even-tempered, the four boys
were generous and af1ectionate, even if
somewhat mischievous and tantalizing
Kittie, herself, was ordinarily as bright
and contentcd lassie as could be
found any place. What could be the
trouble to-dayP al must find out all
about it," was Ediths unspoken
thought. Seating herself on the arm
of Kittie's chair she impcrilously or
dered the confession TO proceed. "You
always make me your confidant event
ually, YOU know, Katharine, so it will
save trouble if you will unburdcn your
mind at once, and tell me why you
have become so dreadfully mercenary.
Proceed!
Kittic laughed. II was Sc absurd TO
see Edith, who seldom yentured to
contradict or oppose her in the least,
put on a semblance of stern authority.
"My dear child, do you see this?n
she asked. drawing forth from her
pocket portmonnaie, whose external
appearance, at least, did not indicate
that it secreted much wealth. Now
listen" she continued, opening it and
pouring its contents into her lap.
"Ten. fifteen, twenty-five, twenty
seven, thirty, thirty-live, thirty-six,
thirty-seven, and this nickel with a
hole punched through it. which no one
but blind old Mr.. Sykes would take Il
can't imagine where got iD, that is
the sum total of my wealth, Edith. and,
oh! | do want ten dollars SO much!'
"Whyp because fathers birthday
comes two weeks from Faster Sunday.
you know, and want to give him com
plete set of Shakespeare works. The
only copy that we have is one that
used to be grandfather the print is
so terribly fine that father can read it
at all, and besides. Fred spilled bot
tie of mucilage over it about six weeks
ago, and the pages are glued together
now. 1t is remarkable, but that
wretched mucilage utterly refused to
stick to anything else; that is striking
example of the total depravity of
inanimate things. There is beauti-
full set of the Handy Volume edition
in Mr.. Brereton's window. and the
price is only $40 1t might as well
he hundred dollars, however, for all
the good il is likely to do me-" and
kittic ended with dsconsolate sigh.
Edith looked sober II was SO strange
not to he able to give just what one
wished q give to > frisnd She ~.